I am the founder of the Santa Clara VTA Riders Union. We are
a grassroots transit advocacy and watchdog group of concerned
citizens. We are not affiliated with the Santa Clara Valley
Transportation Authority (VTA) in any way whatsoever.

Did you know that the VTA's Board of Directors - who decide
transit policy in the Valley - will vote on its third transit fare hike in as many years on April 1? Here is a partial
listing of the fare hikes VTA is proposing:

Instead of fare hikes, we demand that VTA control its
administrative spending. According to analysis by VTA
Policy Advisory Committee member and Mountain View City
Councilman Greg Perry, VTA spends $56 million per year
on administrative costs. These are the highest such
costs in the nation. VTA has over 1800 administrators -
nearly 4 times the national average for a public transit
agency - including New York City!

We have an online petition that you can sign to protest
VTA's proposed fare hike and demand that they control
their (over)spending habit...

For South San Jose, city councilmembers Forrest Williams
and Pat Dando also sit on the VTA Board of Directors; thus
they will be voting on the fare hike proposal April 1. Here
is how to contact them directly to protest:

San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales is also a voting member of the
VTA Board. Reach him at (408)277-4237 in addition to Ms. Dando or Mr. Williams.
Again, the VTA Board of Directors will vote on the proposed
fare hike on Thursday, April 1, at 5:30pm at the County
Board of Supervisors Chambers at 70 W. Hedding St. in
San Jose (near Civic Center light rail station and the 36,
62, 66, and 180 bus lines. There is a 95% chance of a rally
to protest the proposal at 4pm in front of 70 W. Hedding
St. in San Jose.

Further information on everything you are NOT hearing in
the press about VTA and how you can stand up for better public
transit can be found on our web site...